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September 30, 2016

New data shows that Ohio's poverty rate is down. But for Ohioans in poverty, the fact remains- it's expensive to be poor. Get the facts from our new report.

New poverty data from the U.S. Census Bureau show an improving economy and the importance of public support programs.

Nationally, the poverty rate decreased from 15.5% in 2014 to 14.7% in 2015. In Ohio, the poverty rate fell from 15.8% in 2014 to 14.8% in 2015. This means that between 2014 and 2015, 111,000 Ohioans moved above the poverty line.

Although this is good news, more than 1.5 million Ohioans remain in poverty, and the reality is- it’s expensive to be poor. Ohioans living below the poverty line pay more on necessities like rent, child care, and groceries and often get caught in a debt trap when they turn to payday lenders to make ends meet.

The High Cost of Being Poor in Ohio, a new report from Advocates for Ohio’s Future and the Coalition on Human Needs, takes a closer look at economic stability across Ohio and gives recommendations for how policymakers can advance the progress made over the last year. Public support programs, including nutrition assistance, housing subsidies, and child-care subsidies, have proven successful in lifting thousands of Ohioans out of poverty and reducing the costs of poverty for thousands more. Continued investments in these programs will move Ohio even closer to an economy that works for everyone.